Post by recklessjack on Dec 1, 2007 1:21:50 GMT -6
As a response towards Ricky Johnson's and his last "My Thoughts" thread that featured his top ten matches list, I figured a Top Ten Matches thread could be a good thing. So let's do the damn thing cuz.
10. Cactus Jack vs. Triple H in a Street Fight at WWF Royal Rumble 2000
Why: If Foley only would have stayed retired after this match as it was the perfect way for him to leave wrestling on for good. As luck would it though, he wouldn't in order to make other stars but this match is probably the best of his career and is still probably the best of Trips. Both men fought for near twenty five minutes I believe and a one more then one occasion played homage to a different Foley match. Foley had no problem putting his shoulders on the mat for most of his career and this wasn't any different as he made Triple H into a badass killer instead of just someone people hated. Foley made Triple H into the heel we all knew for many years, period. Plus the match just owned the house off and was fantastic. Star rating if you're into that kinda thing is ****3/4.
9. BJ Whitmer vs. Jimmy Jacobs in a Cage at RoH Supercard of Honor II
Why: This was the pay off match for a years worth of hard work by both men to make one of the best angles in RoH history. It goes like this. BJ needed a tag partner back in 2005. He chose Jimmy. They were two time RoH Tag Team champions. Then they hit a patch of hard luck and were picked up by business woman, Lacey, to form the new Lacey's Angels. Well, Jimmy found himself getting smitten towards Lacey and stopped paying attention in tag team matches. This lead Whitmer to turn against Jimmy at Dissension. So the next year was building to this match. These two pretty much found ways to fight each other on quite a few shows to keep building that both men wanted to kill each other. So when the match finally came, they nearly did that. Jimmy Jacobs paid a huge price, tearing his knee up and losing half a tooth. One of the best blow off matches in quite some time. Star rating was ****1/4.
8. KENTA vs. Bryan Danielson at RoH Glory By Honor V Night 2
Why: This is a match about pure toughness. About a month before this match, Danielson severly injured his right shoulder in a match against Colt Cabana. He had to pull out of a few shows before this match. However, there was no way in hell he was going to miss this match against Pro Wrestling NOAH Star, KENTA. What happened that night is probably one of the best matches this decade and probably in the top five in Ring of Honor history. KENTA went after that real shoulder injury. Danielson did everything he could to stop KENTA. Words just do this match justice. Star rating was ****3/4
7. Jushin Lyger vs. Brian Pillman at WCW Superbrawl '92
Why: This set the standard for almost anything high flying in the United States in my opinion. Pillman and Lyger could do no wrong most of the time and pretty much shed light to the high flying style on the national stage towards the casual fan for WCW. Considering WCW had one of the best Cruiserweight scenes for most the Ninties, although they had no idea what to do with them half the time, this pretty much set the standard like I said. Totally fun match to watch. Gotta pay a bit of attention but still, total blast all the way. Star rating was ***3/4.
6. Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage at WWF Wrestlemania V
Why: The Mega Powers explode! And the result is Savage carrying Hogan to the match of his career in my opinion. This had a great build and it was all over a woman. The late Ms. Elizabeth. This was almost as good as Hogan got and Savage made him look great in the process. Savage heels it up the whole match and isn't afraid to take any shortcut in order to get the better of Hogan. Hogan was Hogan though with the superhuman comeback. Still, this is just a personal favorite of mine. Ventura acts like a total dick to Hogan as there was some legit heat between two. Good match and tons of fun. Star rating was ***1/2.
5. Low Ki vs. American Dragon vs. Christoper Daniels at RoH The Era Of Honor Begins
Why: This is the match that started me on my road to the wrestling fan I've become. I accidentally stumbled upon the DVD on day at a store. I bought it because it was cheap and it blew my mind away. I was only used to WWE at this point. Everything leading up to this match was good. It had one of only two RoH appearances by the late Eddie Guerrero. But this main event was so critical of me becoming the fan I am right now. I hadn't seen anything like that before this match basically. It hasn't aged all that well but it will always hold a place in my heart. Star rating was ***** when I saw it... **** now.
4. AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels at TNA Bound for Glory 2005 in an Iron Man Match (30 Minutes)
Why: This is a perfect example of how to incorporate meaningful wrestling and high impact in the same match for the X Division. This was pretty much their blow off to a ten month long or so feud. Not to mention this plays off the first Iron Man match they had a bit. This was probably the best piece of story telling the X Division ever did although the Iron Man stipulation was a little silly as neither man showed interest in pinning one another until the time was getting down there. But everything from their past matches almost played into this. The counters to the counters, the escape from the Koji Clutch. Both men came out looking great from this one and is probably my favorite TNA match ever. So there you have it. Star rating was ****1/4.
3. Austin Aries vs. CM Punk at RoH Death Before Dishonor III
Why: This is the pinnacle of CM Punk's face run and probably the best heel Aries title match that he had. Everything Punk did, he was cheered, like a face should. Everything Aries did was booed out of the place. This had some old school heat to it from the "smart" fans. Then again, when Aries acts heel, he means business. But this whole match was building up towards the huge win of CM Punk, to win that title. And I'm including the after match promo into this whole thing. But the match itself is something else. Punk finally got his World Title win, Aries finally acted like a heel and it set up the whole Summer of Punk. Star rating was ****1/4.
2. Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels at WWE Wrestlemania XIX
Why: This gets number two for a few reasons. Jericho is probably one of my all time favorites. But this match is pretty darn good. Jericho wanted to be like Michaels but then wanted to be the first Jericho. The build up for this match was great and when it came time for the match, it told something decent as everyone was still working on Shawn's back to tell the story. Whatever though, I just enjoyed seeing Jericho go out and heel up and then do Michaels moves. Sure the wrong person went over in my opinion but Jericho still got his heat back. This is a perfect example on how to build up to a match and make it enjoyable, leaving the door open for a rematch. Star rating was ****.
1. Steve Austin vs. The Rock at WWF Wrestlemania X-7
Why: If you've seen my review on this match, then you should now why. If you haven't though, this is match of the decade so far. This tells a simple but effective story. Austin wants to do anything to win. In doing so, he'll cheat to win, even with the No DQ stip. Rock tries his best to keep pace but it doesn't work out so well. There is so much psychology and homage spots to past Austin matches, it's fantastic. Plus this was the match that made me fall in love with wrestling. I was a bit casual until I saw this. It ended the Attitude Era and started my love for professional wrestling, need I say more? Star rating was *****.
Of course you fine folks can post in this thread.
10. Cactus Jack vs. Triple H in a Street Fight at WWF Royal Rumble 2000
Why: If Foley only would have stayed retired after this match as it was the perfect way for him to leave wrestling on for good. As luck would it though, he wouldn't in order to make other stars but this match is probably the best of his career and is still probably the best of Trips. Both men fought for near twenty five minutes I believe and a one more then one occasion played homage to a different Foley match. Foley had no problem putting his shoulders on the mat for most of his career and this wasn't any different as he made Triple H into a badass killer instead of just someone people hated. Foley made Triple H into the heel we all knew for many years, period. Plus the match just owned the house off and was fantastic. Star rating if you're into that kinda thing is ****3/4.
9. BJ Whitmer vs. Jimmy Jacobs in a Cage at RoH Supercard of Honor II
Why: This was the pay off match for a years worth of hard work by both men to make one of the best angles in RoH history. It goes like this. BJ needed a tag partner back in 2005. He chose Jimmy. They were two time RoH Tag Team champions. Then they hit a patch of hard luck and were picked up by business woman, Lacey, to form the new Lacey's Angels. Well, Jimmy found himself getting smitten towards Lacey and stopped paying attention in tag team matches. This lead Whitmer to turn against Jimmy at Dissension. So the next year was building to this match. These two pretty much found ways to fight each other on quite a few shows to keep building that both men wanted to kill each other. So when the match finally came, they nearly did that. Jimmy Jacobs paid a huge price, tearing his knee up and losing half a tooth. One of the best blow off matches in quite some time. Star rating was ****1/4.
8. KENTA vs. Bryan Danielson at RoH Glory By Honor V Night 2
Why: This is a match about pure toughness. About a month before this match, Danielson severly injured his right shoulder in a match against Colt Cabana. He had to pull out of a few shows before this match. However, there was no way in hell he was going to miss this match against Pro Wrestling NOAH Star, KENTA. What happened that night is probably one of the best matches this decade and probably in the top five in Ring of Honor history. KENTA went after that real shoulder injury. Danielson did everything he could to stop KENTA. Words just do this match justice. Star rating was ****3/4
7. Jushin Lyger vs. Brian Pillman at WCW Superbrawl '92
Why: This set the standard for almost anything high flying in the United States in my opinion. Pillman and Lyger could do no wrong most of the time and pretty much shed light to the high flying style on the national stage towards the casual fan for WCW. Considering WCW had one of the best Cruiserweight scenes for most the Ninties, although they had no idea what to do with them half the time, this pretty much set the standard like I said. Totally fun match to watch. Gotta pay a bit of attention but still, total blast all the way. Star rating was ***3/4.
6. Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage at WWF Wrestlemania V
Why: The Mega Powers explode! And the result is Savage carrying Hogan to the match of his career in my opinion. This had a great build and it was all over a woman. The late Ms. Elizabeth. This was almost as good as Hogan got and Savage made him look great in the process. Savage heels it up the whole match and isn't afraid to take any shortcut in order to get the better of Hogan. Hogan was Hogan though with the superhuman comeback. Still, this is just a personal favorite of mine. Ventura acts like a total dick to Hogan as there was some legit heat between two. Good match and tons of fun. Star rating was ***1/2.
5. Low Ki vs. American Dragon vs. Christoper Daniels at RoH The Era Of Honor Begins
Why: This is the match that started me on my road to the wrestling fan I've become. I accidentally stumbled upon the DVD on day at a store. I bought it because it was cheap and it blew my mind away. I was only used to WWE at this point. Everything leading up to this match was good. It had one of only two RoH appearances by the late Eddie Guerrero. But this main event was so critical of me becoming the fan I am right now. I hadn't seen anything like that before this match basically. It hasn't aged all that well but it will always hold a place in my heart. Star rating was ***** when I saw it... **** now.
4. AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels at TNA Bound for Glory 2005 in an Iron Man Match (30 Minutes)
Why: This is a perfect example of how to incorporate meaningful wrestling and high impact in the same match for the X Division. This was pretty much their blow off to a ten month long or so feud. Not to mention this plays off the first Iron Man match they had a bit. This was probably the best piece of story telling the X Division ever did although the Iron Man stipulation was a little silly as neither man showed interest in pinning one another until the time was getting down there. But everything from their past matches almost played into this. The counters to the counters, the escape from the Koji Clutch. Both men came out looking great from this one and is probably my favorite TNA match ever. So there you have it. Star rating was ****1/4.
3. Austin Aries vs. CM Punk at RoH Death Before Dishonor III
Why: This is the pinnacle of CM Punk's face run and probably the best heel Aries title match that he had. Everything Punk did, he was cheered, like a face should. Everything Aries did was booed out of the place. This had some old school heat to it from the "smart" fans. Then again, when Aries acts heel, he means business. But this whole match was building up towards the huge win of CM Punk, to win that title. And I'm including the after match promo into this whole thing. But the match itself is something else. Punk finally got his World Title win, Aries finally acted like a heel and it set up the whole Summer of Punk. Star rating was ****1/4.
2. Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels at WWE Wrestlemania XIX
Why: This gets number two for a few reasons. Jericho is probably one of my all time favorites. But this match is pretty darn good. Jericho wanted to be like Michaels but then wanted to be the first Jericho. The build up for this match was great and when it came time for the match, it told something decent as everyone was still working on Shawn's back to tell the story. Whatever though, I just enjoyed seeing Jericho go out and heel up and then do Michaels moves. Sure the wrong person went over in my opinion but Jericho still got his heat back. This is a perfect example on how to build up to a match and make it enjoyable, leaving the door open for a rematch. Star rating was ****.
1. Steve Austin vs. The Rock at WWF Wrestlemania X-7
Why: If you've seen my review on this match, then you should now why. If you haven't though, this is match of the decade so far. This tells a simple but effective story. Austin wants to do anything to win. In doing so, he'll cheat to win, even with the No DQ stip. Rock tries his best to keep pace but it doesn't work out so well. There is so much psychology and homage spots to past Austin matches, it's fantastic. Plus this was the match that made me fall in love with wrestling. I was a bit casual until I saw this. It ended the Attitude Era and started my love for professional wrestling, need I say more? Star rating was *****.
Of course you fine folks can post in this thread.
